Jeep Reveals When The Wrangler Pickup Truck Will Go Into Production

It's still a few years off but will be arriving sooner than we thought.

The good news is that the Jeep Wrangler pickup truck is coming. The bad news is that you’ll need to wait a few years to get your hands on it, this according to Jeep CEO Mike Manley. learned of the new truck’s late 2019 production date while at a first drive event for the new Compass. This news may come as a surprise to some given that the new Wrangler is slated to debut at some point this year and hit dealer lots as a 2018 model. If you paid attention to recent FCA rumblings then the late 2019 production start date will be a relief.

Back in January at the Detroit Auto Show, , part of which included the retooling of its Toledo, Ohio, plant to accommodate the Wrangler truck. He estimated the work would be finished in 2020, which could have led to the truck debuting as a 2021 model year. Manley’s recent update makes it seem as though the Wrangler truck will be a 2020 MY. We’d like it to arrive sooner but will gladly take one year being knocked off the development timeline. In addition to the production start date Jeep’s CEO also revealed that he and Marchionne have been brainstorming names for the new model.

Historical names are being considered, which mean “Comanche” and “Gladiator” are in play. In terms of sales Manley expects the majority of buyers for the Wrangler truck to come from the US and the Middle East. There’s no word on pricing or trim levels just yet. A Jeep truck may end up being pricier than other mid-size competitors given that it will come with some off-roading chops out the box.